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Here’s a brief report about when I went to the NEWS event last week. Sorry for the delay, I’ve been wondering whether it was alright or not to report about it, but seeing that they’re all over now in Tokyo and Osaka, I’m releasing this now and hoping for the best!

The fans in my time slot probably endured the weather elements more than anyone else because it was midday, sunny, 35C, and humid. That and there was hardly any shelter. Good thing I brought my sunglasses, sunscreen, fan, sweat wipes, and water. I had gotten there about two hours before the event was scheduled to start and passed time talking to the fans around me. These included two Koyama fans, one of who was wearing a checkered top in all the NEWS colours, a Tegoshi fan wearing an awesome skull T-shirt and pink jeans, and me in a yellow summer dress and military boots.

An hour before the event was scheduled to start, the staff started letting fans inside. My new friends and I ended up in the second row.

The first floor of the venue was filled up with fans standing, and the second floor had seats for families with small children. A bed-ridden fan was invited to the 1.5 metre space separating the first row of fans and the stage so she could get a good view (lucky!). I think there were about 1000 fans in the venue.

A large screen behind the stage had the words “集まれチャンカパーナ !(Gather round Chankapana!)”, and the Chankapana music video was played 3 times.

Everyone laughed or screamed in the same places – all chatting about why the little girl would change channels when four amazing guys were on TV, when Koyama lifts his shirt a bit, and a big laugh when Koyama says “美しい恋にするよ (Utsukushii koi ni suruyo)” with his hand held up.

When the event started, a video mix of the Chankapana video was played and Shige walked on stage. After Shige signaled for the others, they eventually walked on stage side by side, walked across the stage, and disappeared behind the curtains again. Eventually they came out again, riding one of those platform trolleys.

Shige: Thanks for buying the box set!

Massu: Box! Box! (making an X sign using his arms and jumping around)

Which fan traveled the furthest?

One of the first questions NEWS asked the crowd, was who had traveled the furthest to get here today?

Koyama: Don’t lie. If you lie you’ll be punished. We’ll make you run home.

The furthest I could hear were from Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Men in the crowd

The group were happy to see men in the crowd, and started talking to a fan who had the same hairstyle as Massu.

Koyama: Have you ever been surrounded by so many ladies? Lucky!

Hairstyle

The topic changed to how Massu asks his hairdresser to do his hair (on this day it was blond, with red streaks underneath)

Massu: Charai, please. Shige, what did you say to your hairdresser to get that bosa-bosa (messy) look?

Shige: Ero-ku, please.

NEWS ask Massu whether he’s going to play a doctor with his blond hair.

Massu: Knife please! (makes a dancer-like pose)

Koyama’s hand

Koyama: That music video you were watching while waiting. I know you were laughing when my speaking part came up! I could see you!

Crowd: Kawaii!

Quiz time

The guys played a NEWS quiz game, where they were seated at one side of the stage. When they knew the answer to the question, they had to run to the buzzer on the opposite side of the stage.

Here are some bits:

Q: Name four NEWS songs with titles in katakana.

Massu and Shige dashed to the buzzer, with Massu falling over.

Winner: Shige

Q: How many times does the word “chankapana” appear in the song Chankapana?

They all crowded around the buzzer, and had a ‘huh?’ look on their face while counting with their fingers.

Massu: 5?

Koyama: 15?

Shige: 16

Masuda: None!

Tegoshi: 16, no wait! (he realised Shige had already said that)

Koyama: 18!

Winner: Koyama

Q: Song intro quiz

first song played: Cherish (winner: Tegoshi)

second song: Party Time (winner: Shige. It took a long long time for someone to get it right)

third song: Fly Again (winner: Tegoshi)

fourth song: Fiesta (winner: Tegoshi)

Q: Who’s the best at teoshi-sumo (standing sumo, try to push the other person so they lose balance)?

Everyone was expecting Massu, arm wrestling winner, to win.

Massu vs Tegoshi. Tegoshi won

Koyama vs Shige. Koyama won

Final. Koyama vs Tegoshi. Koyama wins

Prizes

All the fans were given a lottery ticket, and the NEWS members picked out random numbers. Prizes included 5 chankapana stickers, 5 chankapana posters, one polaroid from Music Station personally signed by Tegoshi, and one personally signed chankapana poster from all members, plus personally put name in by Koyama.

It was a surprise because the winners of the signed polaroid and poster were called Mayumi!

Tegoshi shouted out to the polaroid winner, asking her how she wanted her name written.

Tegoshi: Mayumi-san? Mayumi-chan? Mayumi-pana? Mayu-ndol?

Winner: All of them!

Tegoshi: All of them? There won’t be any photo left, it’ll turn black.

The talk went on with the guys saying they either liked their NEWS colour before it was given to them, or just grew into loving it. Koyama remembered when his image colour was a kind of light orange before it was changed to purple.

Koyama: There aren’t many people wearing purple. But you usually don’t see many purple clothes either.

Tegoshi: I heard that purple makes a woman’s skin look more radiant.

Koyama: Really? Then can you all please wear purple and make me happy

Tegoshi’s Q (man): Will there be another Tokyo concert?

Tegoshi: It depends. We honestly don’t know anything right now, but if you can say enough about wanting one, there could be one.

Koyama’s Q (girl): Did you know there are parody versions of Chankapana for each member? Koyama, yours was the first.

Sings verse and chorus of Koyama parody. The microphone was acting up, so it was hard to hear in some places :(

Koyama: send the others to my radio show! Then maybe we can introduce them when each member comes!

SONG performance: Full Swing

Shaking hands

We got told the boys weren’t supposed to do this, it wasn’t in the original schedule, but they really pushed for it (awww).

They jumped off the stage, and fans shook their hands as they passed to get out of the hall.

Shige: You have to look us in the eye, it’s a waste if you don’t! Some fans just look down and pass by.

They really rushed us through it, with lots of staff members sending fans past the boys.

The order was Massu, Shige, Koyama, and finally Tegoshi.

Massu has the most cutest smile ever. I said “大好きです！ (I love you!)” and he gave me a big smile.

Shige looked really cool, his eyes are really big.

Koyama was so close, he kind of bowed down partially like he was saying thank you for coming, but it was so close, especially when you’re looking him in the eye!

Tegoshi had the sweetest smile, and he looks gorgeous, great way to finish!

Like this:

Two cities in one day and two different colour-coordinated outfits, Kanjani8 celebrated the start of their movie in style on July 28, reports Nikkan Sports and Daily Sports Online.

“Eightranger” started in cinemas in Japan over the weekend, and Kanjani8 appeared for the premiere in Tokyo dressed in yukata.

“To make it easier, each of our obi-belts are the same colour as our own image colour,” Subaru Shibutani said.

But then the group traveled to Osaka on the same day to take part in their hometown’s premiere of the movie in the evening, this time dressed in their Eightranger costumes. It has been reported it is the first time all seven members had been in Osaka to promote the movie. Ryuhei Maruyama was not scheduled to appear in the Osaka event, but managed to at the last minute.

It has been reported fans in Umeda, Osaka were screaming and crying.

The movie is based on a concert performance the group have been doing for a number of years.

“I feel so happy knowing that we’ve been able to make Eightranger into something that we could give to all of you,” Shingo Murakami said.

The group itself celebrates eight years together this year, after starting as a Johnny’s group filled with members from the Kansai region, who have now gained popularity both as a group and as soloists.

“I’m really happy to be here to celebrate the first day of our movie, a movie about Osaka’s Eightrangers, which will now be shown across the country,” Ryo Nishikido said.

The group’s co-star, 62-year-old Hiroshi Tachi, also wears an Eightranger suit in the movie, and Yu Yokoyama had said he looks very cool.

Like this:

Talk about red underwear, boxer shorts, nipples, gossip, fans saw a new side of Tomohisa Yamashita during his fan event at Pacifico in Yokohama on July 24, reports Chunichi Sports.

With the release of his new album “エロP (Ero-P)” today and upcoming tour which starts this weekend, yesterday Yamashita let out his sexy side in front of 5000 fans who have always known him as a cool guy.

“That horniness inside of me that I’ve kept hidden since becoming a Johnny’s pop start has started to come out bit by bit this summer. Today I’m wearing red underwear. I like wearing boxer shorts more.”

It has been reported to make his point clearer, before the event, Yamashita had talked to the press about what his concept was for his upcoming tour.

“The tour is a fusion of Johnny’s and eros. It’s something everyone can enjoy whether they’re a little girl or a mature lady.”

Yamashita had been going around the country on his fan event tour for fans who had bought his latest single “LOVE CHASE”. At yesterday’s event, which was the last of the tour, the talent had enjoyed shouting out a lot of messages to his fans.

“You’re all that special someone to me.”

“You can see my nipples in the shower scene of my music video.”

**EXTRA**

ABOUT NEWS AND THEIR NO.1 SINGLE “CHANKAPANA”

“There’s no denying that I wouldn’t be here unless it was for NEWS. I want us to be good competition with one another. I hope we can encourage each other to do better.

“In May and July I sent happy birthday emails to (Keiichiro) Koyama and Massu (Takahisa Masuda),” Yamashita said.

**EXTRA**

ABOUT MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYER ICHIRO’S TRADE TO THE NEW YORK YANKEES

It has been reported Yamashita is a long time fan of Ichiro’s, and had even gotten a baseball and baseball shoes personally signed from the baseball player.

“I’ve been a fan since I was in the third grade.

“He’s already done so much, but he keeps challenging himself and keeps aiming higher. I hope I can keep aiming towards my dreams no matter how old I get,” Yamashita said.

Like this:

Kanjani8 members Shingo Murakami and Tadayoshi Okura helped out a how-to-stay-safe class for families on July 15, reports Sankei News.

It has been reported Hiroshima police department had invited the two to teach local children about how to stay safe during their summer holidays while also promoting their upcoming film “Eight Ranger”. After 2000 fans and families gathered to the event in Fuchu town, they cheered on Murakami and Okura, who came out in their Eight Ranger costumes.

The two picked out give lucky schoolchildren from the crowd, and they played a series of quizzes designed to teach children things like shouting out when they felt threatened, or not to follow strangers. It has been reported the two Johnny’s talents asked all of the parents in the crowd to look after their children over the holidays, and to go see their Eight Ranger movie together.

It has been reported the event had been organized by film company Toho, local shopping centre Aeon Mall, and local police.

It has been reported the theme this year is “未来 (Future)”, which members said the group will make most worthwhile.

“We, Arashi have been fortunate to take part in the 2004 and 2008 Olympic year shows. We’re very happy to have been asked to join the show once more this year. I hope we can make it a hot summer which will lead to a ‘future’ just as much as the Olympics and Paraolympics do,” Sho Sakurai said.

“‘伝える (give a message)’, ‘作る (create)’, and ‘つないでいく (pass down)’. I hope we can all help one another to create a variety of futures,” Kazunari Ninomiya said.

Arashi leader Satoshi Ohno worked with Japanese artist Yoshitomo Nara to design this year’s T-shirt.

“We decided on this design after three meetings … Nara-san’s from Aomori so it depicts an apple* ,” he said.

It has been reported when reporters asked Ohno about his short haircut, he said it was all part of his plan.

“This is a challenge. I’ve never been on 24Hr TV in the past with a new short haircut.”

Actress Aragaki also said she would depend on Arashi for help.

“I feel really nervous standing next to these national pop stars. I’ll be counting on you.”

“２４時間テレビ３５『愛は地球を救う』(24Hr Television / Love Saves the Earth’)” will go on air in Japan on August 25.

Like this:

This is a mashup of several fan reports I found while surfing the web.

Fan Reports: Arashi’s Waku Waku Gakkou

Tokyo Dome

Evening session, 17 June 2012

Stage

360 degree screen, circular stage in centre set up like a class room with one podium and four desks (one Arashi member as teacher and the other four as students)

Before the opening

A message came up on the screen from all Waku Waku Gakkou teachers other than Ninomiya Sensei saying they want to throw a surprise party for him so please refrain from wishing Ninomiya a happy birthday until they say so.

Opening

The opening video showed the five members doing their own thing, and then after seeing the Arashi school seal would transform into their white lab coat outfits.

Jun Matsumoto: Running on a treadmill in the gym and sees the school seal on a T-shirt on a guy in the same room

Masaki Aiba: At a shoot for his drama “Mike-neko no Holmes”, opens up his lunch box and sees the school seal

Sho Sakurai: Giving the weather report during News Zero and sees the school seal as he points to the screen

Kazunari Ninomiya: Inside a bus playing on his Nintendo DS when a message flashes on the screen to look outside, he sees the school seal on a building’s TV monitor

Satoshi Ohno: While reading through his script for the drama “Kagi no Kakatta Heya”, pours some sugar into his cafe au lait, and the coffee art turns into the school seal

After the transformation, the five appear from the staff room and onto the Tokyo Dome stage.

Ninomiya Sensei’s Kachi Kachi class

Who dunnit game. Try and find out who broke the vase in the classroom

Getting Ohno to open the lid of a bottle (he can’t because it’s a trick lid that has to be twisted in reverse to normal lids)

Showing how confusing it is if someone reverses the colour of men’s and women’s toilet signs (blue woman sign and red man sign)

The door with a doorknob, but it’s a sliding door

Relay. Matsumoto -> Sakurai -> Aiba -> Ohno ran a relay. Towards the end Nino jumped towards the goal post and started fiddling around. But Ohno managed to run through the goal without any problems. Apparently Nino had tampered with the finish line and at a switch of a button the goal posts were supposed to move further away from Ohno, making him run more.

Aiba Sensei’s Paku Paku class

Three Arashi members keep their eyes open when Aiba changes into a sushi chef

Video of Aiba in a fish costume

Q&A session (the student with the correct answer gets the sushi Aiba is making at the time)
Q: What part is shrimp miso and crab miso? This one went to Ohno who said it’s the liver. Aiba tries to make sushi but gets rice all over his hands so he starts licking it off, which puts off the others. When Ohno finally gets his sushi he bites on a big bit of wasabi, holds his nose and stopped moving.

Members eat fried clams. Everyone compliments Aiba that the food tastes good, and he says, “I love you guys”.

Experiment to see how much water a person can use when taking a shower. Arashi members collect buckets of water from pools set up around Tokyo Dome, and use it to wash a mannequin dressed up as a member. One bucket = One Arashi. In this session, the Aiba mannequin used up 12 Arashi, in June 17’s first session the Ohno mannequin used 13 Arashi (he said he doesn’t use conditioner), and in June 16’s session the Matsumoto mannequin used 18 Arashi.

Matsumoto’s Somo Somo class

Goes around families sitting in the audience asking them for stories about when they were born or the meaning behind their names

Video about birth

Now the members give the audience a sign, and everyone shouts, “Happy Birthday Nino!”

Nino’s birthday section

A birthday cake appeared in both the morning and evening sessions of June 17. After everyone sang Happy Birthday, Nino would blow out the candles.

Apparently in the evening session, the cake was decorated in strawberries and umeboshi sour plums. Matsumoto had said it was because Nino’s mum always gives sour plums to Arashi when they have a concert so his image of Nino’s mum is sour plums.

“In the script it said that when Nino eats his cake and says, ‘why is it sour?’ then Matsujun would say, ‘because this cake has sour plums on it’. But how can he not spot the sour plums,” Sakurai said.

Nino’s birthday comment:

“Thank you so much for celebrating my 29th…not that anything has really changed, but I’m enjoying every day. Now I think it might be an idea to dye my hair blond from time to time whether I’m 30 or 40 or 50.”

Matsumoto had said he heard from Nino’s mother that he was a baby who grew so much inside of her, that no matter how much she tried, he just did not want to come out. She said when he was born he weighed 3900g, or roughly the same as a one month old baby.

Matsumoto: When I asked her why she called you “Kazunari”, she said, “we were fussy about the (kanji) stroke count, and decided we wanted him to become a friendly person, treasuring the 和(wa, harmony) of those around him”. Not only that, but she also spilled on the other name they were thinking for Nino. “大 (Hiroshi)”.

Nino mum’s letter

Ninomiya’s mother wrote a letter for Nino which was read out, but because she knew there were two sessions on his birthday, she wrote two letters.

I couldn’t find a fan who managed to write everything down word for word, but you can get an idea!

These are bits from the morning session:

“Happy Birthday Kazu.

When you were born you weighed 3900g, your neck wouldn’t strengthen as quickly as it should have, you got an infected ear, an ambulance came when you got heat cramps, you got the mumps, the doctor said there was something wrong with your heart, then there was massaging you every time there was a nappy change to get you over from hydrocele testis.

You didn’t like extra-curricular classes. (You cried when going to Kumon, pretended to sleep when it was time to go to piano lessons. But baseball went on for a while)

A lot of people have looked after you over the years. Never forget what it means to be thankful.

Whenever you come home to eat my monja dish, you always say thank you before leaving.

Thank you for coming into my life.

Love Nino-mama”

These are bits from the evening session:

“Happy Birthday Kazu.

I remember when you joined Johnny’s when you were at junior high, and when you were bullied as a child in early primary school and walked to school at a different time from the crowd.

When there was bullying going on in your fifth grade class, your teacher told me that you weren’t involved and that you treated the student getting bullied like a normal person.

I also heard that when your friends invited you to peak into the girl’s changing room with them, you said you didn’t want to. I was happy because it takes real courage to stand up to your friends.

I remember when your friends would come over to the house and you would make takoyaki, how you’d be playing video games a lot, and how the adults in the neighborhood would call you a charmer because you always took your hat off when saying hello to them in the street. Everyone loves seeing you work Kazu, and you always make me smile when I come to your concerts. I am your biggest fan.

Love Nino-mama”

After reading the letter, the other members asked him whether he remembered saying no to his friends when they dared him to peak into the girls changing room.

“When I was a senior at primary school, the girls changing rooms were on the top floors so I think I was just too lazy to go all that way,” Nino said.

Ohno Sensei’s Gera Gera class

Gera Gera championship. See who could laugh the best.

Gera Gera laser. This is the section that got a lot of TV coverage on wide shows. Ohno doing the gera gera dance and song. To see a clip from the news, click here.

Like this:

Johnny’s duo Tackey & Tsubasa held an open press conference in Osaka on June 16, which attracted more than 2000 fans, reports Daily Sports Online.

The two were in Osaka’s Namba Parks to support Disney on Ice Mickey & Minnie’s Princess & Hero, which will be performed in the Osaka-jo Hall in August.

It has been reported although it was raining during the event in Osaka on Saturday, fans had started lining up as early as 5am. When the open press conference finally started at 1pm, 2000 fans had crammed into the venue. Both Johnny’s talents did not disappoint either.

“Our fans in Osaka have so much enthusiasm, I feel like I’m on home base,” Hideaki Takizawa said.

“After Tokyo, Osaka is the second place where I do most of my jobs. I feel safe here,” Tsubasa Imai said.